Greed

There’s a Chinese proverb, “Chieh Kou Chieh Kuo (竊鉤竊國).”

It means a petty thief who steals a hook gets his head cut off, but a thief who steals a country enjoys wealth and honor.

What I did in the survival exam was so beyond everyone’s expectations that it ended the exam early.

As Roel worried, if I had used a despicable method like space magic to score points by screwing over others, I would have been criticized for being cowardly. But the way I stole everyone’s points using fire and water changed their perception of me to ‘crazy bastard’ or ‘dangerous guy’.

Even my roommates, who had treated me like I didn’t exist, would subtly avoid eye contact or quietly slip out of the room if they were alone with me.

It wasn’t intentional, but it was better than getting cursed at, so I didn’t bother to clear up the misunderstanding.

Because the survival exam ended abruptly, the first-year combat department took a break until all the exams for all grades were over.

And on Friday evening, when all the exams for all grades were over, a huge banquet was held at the academy to celebrate the end of the exams.

Rakarr and I arrived at the banquet hall early to secure seats for our club members.

Actually, it wasn’t so much that we secured seats, but rather that no one wanted to sit near us, so seats naturally remained for our club members.

As people gradually began to take their seats at the long tables in the banquet hall, Kane, looking a little tired, Aria, with her ever-lively expression, and Luna, looking a bit… troubled for some reason, joined our table.

,Ross, Rakarr. I heard you guys got 1st and 2nd place? I heard rumors that you guys were amazing?

Kane added, agreeing with Aria’s fussiness as soon as we met.

,I heard too. The exam was cut short because of two crazy guys in the combat department.

Seeing Kane’s playful smile, I could tell that the rumors about Rakarr and me had spread throughout the academy.

,I have to do this much as the head of the Messiah club.

Shrugging my shoulders and throwing out a joke, everyone laughed.

While we were transferring the fancy food on the table to our respective plates, Aria suddenly asked.

,So, it’s confirmed that you two are going to the duels, what about the rest? I also got 4th place in the magic department this time, so I’m going to the duels.

As Aria turned her head from the turkey leg to look at Kane and Luna, they shrank back like small animals.

,I… I didn’t get good grades on the exam.

Aria, looking flustered by Luna’s gloomy voice, quickly offered words of comfort.

,S, sorry! Y, you’ll get good grades next time!

Luna gave a bitter smile to Aria, who was rambling on, and shook her head.

,It’s okay. It’s because I didn’t try hard enough. Congratulations on getting 4th place.

Aria soon grinned at Luna’s words.

,It’s a shame, but I’m not going to the duels because I’m 5th.

Aria narrowed her eyes and glared at Kane, looking suspicious at Kane’s expression, which showed no sign of regret.

,Did you intentionally drop out because you were too lazy?

Judging by the way the fork holding the cake was moving up and down, it seems Aria hit the nail on the head.

,W, what are you talking about? I’m not that kind of person.

Aria moved her face closer to Kane, who was subtly avoiding eye contact and muttering.

,Then why are you avoiding my eyes? Like someone who’s guilty~?

,Because you’re ugly.

,What?!

I turned my gaze away from the two people who were bickering as usual and looked at Luna, who was silently pursing her lips.

When our eyes met, the worried feeling disappeared at the sight of Luna’s usual pretty smile.

I switched my plate with the sliced steak with Luna’s empty plate and winked, and Luna replied with a small thank you.

,You worked hard, Luna.

,Yeah. Ross, you worked hard too taking the exam. I heard the rumors. That you did something amazing on the exam….

As Luna’s eyes lit up with curiosity, Aria, who had been pinching Kane, turned her head and asked.

,That’s right! How did you do it? Everyone I ask doesn’t explain it properly.

Because everyone looked curious, I briefly explained what I had done on the exam.

Aria, who had been exclaiming with admiration, “Wow, oh, amazing,” while listening to my explanation, trembled all over as soon as the explanation was over and looked at me as if I was amazing.

Kane listened to the explanation with a look as if he was looking at a crazy person, and at the end, he subtly raised his thumb.

,Amazing, Ross. The professors must have been surprised too.

When I was feeling a deep sense of happiness at Luna’s praise with a pretty smile, Nelson appeared in the banquet hall.

,You can listen while you eat. I know how annoying it is when the flow is interrupted while you’re eating something delicious.

Laughter was heard from tables all over the place at Nelson’s joke.

,As of today, all grade exams are over. Everyone, you’ve worked really hard. Did you make good memories in this exam? Our professors and teaching assistants have been working hard to grade, and we can now announce the top and runner-up of each department by grade in this place.

Aria, who was tearing off a new turkey leg at Nelson’s words, stopped her hand and looked with expectant eyes.

When Nelson waved his cane, the fire that spewed from the end of the cane turned into letters in the air.

Aria, who found my name among the many names, screamed with joy and pounded my arm.

As expected, Rakarr and I became the top and runner-up of the combat department. If you become the top of each department, you will receive something like a wish ticket as a reward.

When Roel was a freshman. He became the top of the combat department and the freshman class, so he got one more wish ticket, and he used that one to get me special admission.

I had already decided where to use it before the exam.

While I was being congratulated by the club members for becoming the top of the combat department, I heard someone calling my name from afar.

,Ross!!! Congratulations on being the top of the combat department!!!

I covered my face at Roel’s loud voice that echoed through the banquet hall.

Please, don’t call me in a loud voice in front of others…!!!

I subtly ignored Roel, who was waving at me and shouting, as if I hadn’t heard him, and when Roel called my name loudly again, thinking I hadn’t heard him, my face turned red with embarrassment and I quickly got up from my seat.

When I was waving my hand at Roel, who was smiling and waving his hand innocently without knowing my feelings, to tell him to stop and sit down.

Suddenly, starting with someone’s applause, the combat department students sitting around me started clapping.

,Congratulations on being the top!

,Congratulations!

,The exam was amazing!

Surprised by the unexpected congratulations, I thanked the people around me with a dazed expression and sat back down.

,Everyone seems to recognize you!

,They have no choice but to recognize him! After that crazy thing he did!

Kane added, giggling at Aria’s words.

,That’s right. The club leader was really amazing.

I gave a hollow laugh at Rakarr’s nod, as if acknowledging me, and turned my head to Luna.

I looked at Luna with a puzzled expression at Luna’s gloomy expression, pursing her lips for some reason, and I scratched the back of my head with a strange feeling at Luna’s appearance, shaking her head and looking at me with a bright expression again.

Is something wrong…?

She looked like she had a problem, but it must not be something she could tell me.

,Okay, everyone, please pay attention now. It’s about the duel tomorrow.

At Nelson’s words, the commotion quickly subsided.

,The academy will be fully open during the weekend. Many people will visit Transcendence Academy to watch the ‘duel’. The Capital Defense Force and the Imperial Knights will be stationed at the academy to ensure the smooth running of the event. Shops in the capital and other cities will open temporary shops in various places such as classrooms and open spaces during the weekend. You’ll be able to taste a variety of foods during the weekend.

Clap clap―

Applause echoed through the banquet hall at Nelson’s words. In particular, Aria clapped her hands like a seal at the words “various foods”.

,However, what’s more important than the event is your safety. If you see someone among the academy’s guests threatening a student or approaching them with impure intentions, be sure to ask for help from the knights, professors, or teaching assistants around you.

Fortunately, nothing special will happen in this duel. The Order and the Demon King were busy trying to find the whereabouts of the hidden saintess.

,I will announce the participants of the duel.

Once again, Nelson waved his cane, and new names emerged.

A total of 16 people per grade.

If you were aiming for the top spot in your grade, you would have to play 4 games during the weekend.

,For the participants who have been working hard for 3 days of exams. The 5th floor Fairy Bath will be open during the weekend. The Imperial Family has also provided a lot of support to relieve the participants’ fatigue, so the participants of the duel should be sure to use the bath during the weekend.

When Nelson finished speaking and returned to the table where the professors were sitting, the banquet hall became noisy in an instant. Discussions about the duel tomorrow were heard from tables all over the place.

Except for the participants, the students could also bet some money on the duel, so they were sharing information with each other.

Among us, the people participating in the duel were me, Rakarr, and Aria. A total of 3 people.

I wish everyone could have participated, but I felt a little disappointed.

,The Fairy Bath! I wonder what will be there this time!

Aria said with a voice full of anticipation, her eyes shining.

The Fairy Bath was a place that had appeared in the novel. It was a special place that eliminated physical and mental fatigue and quickly restored stamina and magic power.

It wasn’t a huge magical space. As Nelson said, the alchemists supported by the Imperial Family simply created a huge potion bath using potions.

After finishing our meal, we had a good time catching up while people left the banquet hall one by one.

While we were talking about what happened in each exam, I was constantly worried about Luna, who was quieter than usual, so when the talk was over and we left the banquet hall.

I told Rakarr to go ahead with Aria, who was telling me to go to the Fairy Bath right away, and followed Luna.

On the way back to the magic department dormitory.

Perhaps because I left the banquet hall late, there was no one walking on the road.

As I walked along the road with Luna, matching her pace, Luna, who had been silent for a long time, opened her mouth.

,Congratulations, Ross. To be the top of the combat department…. You really worked hard.

I smiled happily at Luna’s words.

,I worked hard to get praised by my girlfriend.

Luna smiled happily at my words, but soon lowered her gaze with a dejected expression.

I couldn’t help but ask with a puzzled voice at that sight.

,Why do you look so dejected…?

,That’s… Ross worked hard and became the top. But I failed the exam….

Looking around at Luna’s appearance, fidgeting with her fingers with a sorry expression, I subtly grabbed Luna’s left hand.

,It’s okay. Luna always works hard. You’ll definitely get good results next time.

,Yeah… I hope so.

Stopping and giving strength to the hand I was holding as if signaling at Luna’s appearance, moving her steps with a powerless expression despite my comfort.

When Luna was about to turn her head to look at me with a puzzled expression, I brought my lips close in advance and my lips touched Luna’s soft cheek.

Luna’s face, who received a surprise cheek kiss, turned red in an instant. Her already big eyes widened even more, and her lips twitched with embarrassment, making her look so cute that a smile naturally appeared on my face.

,It’s okay even if Luna gets last place on the exam.

Luna pursed her lips at my words, then buried her face in my chest and asked in a small voice.

,Why…?

,Because you’re pretty, cute, and I love you so much?

Hugging Luna in my arms tightly and whispering playfully, I suddenly felt Luna’s shoulders trembling.

,Luna…?

Looking at her just in case, Luna was hugging me and crying for some reason.

I was so flustered by Luna’s sudden tears that my mind went blank.

Seeing Luna crying, sobbing as if she was releasing her resentment, I wondered if I had done something wrong and quickly recalled what had happened today, but I couldn’t figure out what had made Luna cry.

Since I couldn’t guess anything, all I could do was stroke Luna’s back as if comforting her.

,Why are you crying? Don’t cry.

After stroking Luna’s back and comforting her for a long time, Luna, who had been holding my waist tightly as if she didn’t want to leave me, slowly released the strength in her arms.

Taking advantage of that gap, I reached out my hand and wiped away the tear marks left on Luna’s face. Luna pursed her lips and burrowed back into my arms, as if she was embarrassed to show me her crying face.

,Our Luna is pretty even when she cries?

Whispering a joke in her ear to ease the atmosphere, Luna’s ears turned red in an instant.

Luna, who had been silent in my arms for a while, raised her head and looked at me with teary eyes. Perhaps because she had been crying, her lips were redder than usual, and her slightly protruding lips were cute.

When I lowered my head and touched her lips, her lips felt warmer and softer than usual.

,Sorry… for crying suddenly….

Looking at me with uneasy eyes, as if worried that I would think badly about her crying with a tearful voice, I burst out laughing.

,It’s okay. You can cry as much as you want by my side. You can whine and be spoiled as much as you want. I’ll just have to comfort you hard.

Saying that and kissing her lips once more, Luna smiled brightly as if she had never cried.

,Ro, Ross can cry by my side anytime if you’re having a hard time too. Because I want to be a strength to Ross too.

Luna, who was holding onto my clothes with her small hands as if she didn’t want to let me go, I asked with a playful voice.

,I’m curious how you’re going to comfort me?

Whispering playfully, bringing my face closer. Luna pursed her small lips with a flushed face and hesitated, then suddenly spread her arms with difficulty and hugged me tightly.

,L, like this, hugging you tightly….

Luna, who was looking up at me while hugging me, enduring her embarrassment, was so lovely.

I hugged Luna and put my chin on her shoulder and said as if whispering.

,Definitely, I’m comforted.

Unintentionally at Luna’s touch, stroking the back of my head diligently with her small hands at my words.

I hope this warm warmth stays in my arms forever….

I had such greed.